The Matsya Purana (critical study)

by Kushal Kalita | 2018 | 74,766 words | ISBN-13: 9788171103058

This page relates ‘Legend of Yayati-Devayani and Sharmishtha’ of the English study on the Matsya-purana: a Sanskrit text preserving ancient Indian traditions and legends written in over 14,000 metrical verses. In this study, the background and content of the Matsyapurana is outlined against the cultural history of ancient India in terms of religion, politics, geography and architectural aspects. It shows how the encyclopedic character causes the text to deal with almost all the aspects of human civilization.

Part 1b - The Legend of Yayāti-Devayānī and Śarmiṣṭhā

Śukra, the priest of asuras in the court of Vṛṣaparvā had a daughter Devayānī by name. Once she was enjoying with other maidens in the pleasure garden of Kuvera. After taking bath all of them hastily dressed themselves with the clothes as they could find them. In that hurry Śarmiṣṭhā, the daughter of Vṛṣaparvā put on the clothes of Devayānī at which there started a quarrel between these two ladies. In that quarrel Śarmiṣṭhā insulted Devayānī that she and her father were dependent on the mercy of Śarmiṣṭhā’s father only. The outraged Śarmiṣṭhā even threw Devayānī into well and returned to her place.

After a while, King Yayāti in course of his hunting reached near that well where he saw beautiful Devayānī. Being entreated by her Yayāti rescued her. Now after that insult Devayānī did not agree to stay at Vṛṣaparvā’s palace at which Śukra felt helpless out of love for his daughter and was ready to leave the palace too. Then Vṛṣaparvā intervened into the matter and requested Devayānī and Śukra for staying back there. Devayānī told that she would agree if Śarmiṣṭhā would be made her maid with thousand other damsels and she would have to follow Devayānī to her husband’s home also. Being concerned about the welfare of the Asuras Śarmiṣṭhā agreed and served Devayānī as her maid.

After a long time, situation made Devayānī and Yayāti to meet each other when the former requested the later to marry her. With due permission from Śukra, Devayānī and Yayāti tied the knot. Before leaving for his country, Yayāti was warned by Śukra that he must be careful not to invite Śarmiṣṭhā to his bed. Time passed when Yayāti and Devayānī enjoyed each other’s company. Śarmiṣṭhā was always there at the service of Devayānī.

After thousand years passed when Śarmiṣṭhā was in her full-bloom youth, she felt the need of a husband and thus requested Yayāti to enjoy her company. Yayāti, the noble king first refused to this but later on he accepted her. Then in time Devayānī gave birth to two sons and Śarmiṣṭhā became the mother of three sons. Knowing the actual father of the sons of Śarmiṣṭhā, Devayānī became angry and left for her father’s house. Following her when Yayāti reached there, Śukra cursed that Yayāti would soon become old. At this Yayāti instantly turned into an old man. Yayāti requested Śukra for mercy as he had not yet enjoyed his youth fully. Then Śukra told that his words could not be taken back but Yayāti could exchange that old age with the youth of any young man. Happy with this Yayāti then started asking his all the five sons for exchanging their youth with his old age but none agreed. Only the youngest son i.e., Puru agreed to exchange his youth with his father’s old age. Yayāti then blessed Puru to be illustrious and to have a longlived clan.[1]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

, 29-32

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